What Do You Mean by an LMS ?
In today's digital landscape, companies worldwide are embracing the power of eLearning or e- Learning as
their preferred training delivery method. With the eLearning market experiencing exponential growth of 900%
since 2000, organisations recognise the need for a robust Learning Management System (LMS) to facilitate
their eLearning initiatives.
An LMS is a sophisticated software solution that empowers businesses to effortlessly create, deploy, and
monitor training programs for their employees and stakeholders. But what exactly is an LMS, and how does it
operate? Let's delve into how forward-thinking companies leverage LMS technology to design comprehensive
learning experiences for their workforce and broader ecosystems.
LMS: An Introduction
An LMS functions similarly to word processors like Microsoft Word or email servers like Gmail. It allows businesses to develop, manage, and deliver eLearning courses seamlessly. The acronym LMS stands for Learning Management System, comprising three key components:
Learning
As an LMS is designed to deliver training programs, it caters to various learning needs and objectives.
Management
An LMS assists in organising and managing course content efficiently.
System
The software platform provides feedback, enabling progress tracking and targeted improvements.
The structure of a Learning Management System consists of two main components:
The initial segment is an administrative interface training managers utilise to organise
their
learning programs through various back-office tasks. This includes designing,
administering,
and
disseminating courses, managing learners, analysing reports, and automating
notifications,
among
other functionalities.
The second component is an eLearning module, serving as a visually appealing user
interface.
Like a mobile app or web-browser platform, similar to popular applications like Gmail or
Facebook, the eLearning module is the gateway learners encounter when enrolling in or
being
assigned to a course.
So, what are the exact functions of an LMS?
Let's delve into the precise capabilities of an LMS. An LMS empowers you to:
● Generate:
Develop online lessons ( eLearning content) that can be combined to create comprehensive
courses.
● Assign: Automatically assign or provide access to your
employees, partners,
customers,
or the general public.
● Track: Monitoring and managing your training audience
is
crucial. You can
effortlessly
track their progress and maintain evaluation reports.
Who are the primary users of an LMS?
An LMS is utilised by a diverse range of organisations involved in delivering eLearning
courses,
extending beyond educational institutions.
Here are several examples of entities that leverage a learning management system (LMS)
for
training purposes:
-Enterprises of all sizes, ranging from prominent global corporations to small and
medium-sized
businesses
-Healthcare organisations, financial institutions, customer service and contact centres,
among
others
-Government agencies, both national and regional, including the United Nations and local
government offices
-Non-profit organisations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
-Consulting firms providing specialised services
-Academic institutions such as schools, universities, and colleges
-Online educational platforms and eLearning-based institutions
-Independent coaches and teachers
The versatility of a Learning Management System becomes evident in its ability to cater
to
diverse training requirements. Subject matter experts can employ an LMS to deliver
online
courses, train internal staff, and consulting firms can effectively educate their
clients on
various subjects.
What may an LMS be used for?
An LMS serves a wide range of learning activities, as implied by the "L" in its acronym.
Consequently, it has emerged as an indispensable tool for businesses of all sizes.
Here are some typical applications of an LMS platform:
Training employees:
Continuous employee training is essential regardless of your industry – insurance,
manufacturing, healthcare, or government. Whether compliance training or upskilling
existing
staff, a corporate LMS enables employees to learn at their own pace, eliminating
disruptions
associated with traditional learning methods.
By utilising an LMS for eLearning, you can save time and money on staff training instead
of
hiring professional instructors for conventional seminars. Integrated monitoring and
reporting
features provide valuable insights into employee growth.
Onboarding new hires:
Streamline and automate the critical onboarding process with a corporate LMS. While
personal
greetings and office tours remain essential, most necessary information can be
conveniently
accessed and referred to in the learning material at the new hires' convenience.
New employees often need help remembering details about a company's history or
compliance
procedures. However, an online onboarding course ensures constant access to relevant
information.
Your LMS effectively educates new employees about employee conduct codes, privacy
policies,
and
anti-discrimination/harassment policies within your organisation. Additionally, it can
provide
insights into job responsibilities, career advancement prospects, and rewards.
Preserving your employees' knowledge:
your staff's skills is undeniably vital, but it's equally important to learn
from
them. Retaining critical skills, techniques, and information within your organisation
becomes
crucial when employees depart or retire.
Rather than allowing essential knowledge to languish in an overlooked document
management
system, an LMS platform is the perfect solution. It is a knowledge repository that can
train
new
employees and facilitate a smooth departmental transition.
Training your customers and partners:
Your LMS doesn't have to be limited to internal purposes alone. You can extend access to
your
customers and external partners as well.
For instance, you can utilise an LMS to onboard new clients to your product. If you
provide
services to enhance employees' soft skills, you can even design and distribute courses
through
your LMS to your clients.
Equipping salespeople with essential tools:
Frontline employees like salespeople and customer service representatives must
continually
upgrade their knowledge.
Online training is the most efficient way to keep them updated on new products,
services,
industry developments, and sales techniques. Additionally, companies can leverage online
onboarding programs to deliver digital training to new hires, resulting in accelerated
productivity.
Enabling remote learning:
Traditional training often faces challenges due to geographical limitations.
Multinational
corporations and organisations with multiple locations need help to gather everyone for
training
sessions.
By transitioning your training to an online platform, all team members can access
training
content and even participate in live webinars from wherever they are. This shift can
save
significant time and resources.
Promoting learning:
A learning management system (LMS) is beneficial for corporate training and highly
suitable
for
broader educational applications.
Here are a few examples: It can support online lessons in schools, enhance
classroom-based
courses in traditional educational institutions, educate customers for businesses, or
even
assist government agencies or non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in providing
education
to
the general public.
